My 2026 reading list

Very happy to share my 2026 reading list! If you’re newer here, this is the very lowest-key of book clubs: I consider it a delightful exercise in thoughtfully planning my reading a year at a time (12 fiction, 12 non-fiction), and though I always read more than this, and I’m often at the whim of my library holds, it’s helpful to know where to turn when I’m ready for a new book!

Without further ado…

January:
Little Women | A classic I’ve been meaning to read for years! It was on last year’s list and I didn’t get to it, so I’m putting it first this year :) June has already read the abridged version and is eager to watch the movie together once I finish.
Meet Me in the Middle | I listened to the mother-daughter author pair on a podcast episode and enjoyed what they had to say. Thinking this might provide some good fodder for our upcoming tenth birthday getaway.

February:
Beartown | Backman’s book about a small town and its hockey team has been recommended to me for years and years. February seems like the right (chilly!) month to dive in.
The Art of Spending Money | So happy to have a new Morgan Housel book to enjoy! John and I are planning to read this together for a little two-person book club :)

March:
Theo of Golden | There are two books that were read by almost everyone in Articles Club last year, and this is one of them. Must hop on the bandwagon!
Parenting Ahead | This is a very under-the-radar parenting book, but it’s speaking my language: helping parents of younger children build a foundation for their family — based on Biblical principles — for the teen years to come. I’m also intrigued to read it for professional reasons, as it sounds similar to what I try to do at The Connected Family (just with a tech focus).

April:
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Volume I | I’m curious how much traction this series is getting in the wider world, because in my bubble, seemingly everyone is reading it. The way people describe it reminds me a bit of the Mitford series; I’m looking forward to a cozy, literary read!
The Screwtape Letters | A clever and illuminating C.S. Lewis classic, a series of letters to a young devil and back again. I read it several years ago but am ready for a re-read.

May:
The Correspondent | Continuing the epistolary theme, this is the second book that has been making the rounds of Articles Club. I absolutely love the story of this book’s rise to prominence – slow and steady word of mouth that just caught fire – and the author’s story, too. (A fellow NC gal!)
The Unthinkable | While this might be a depressing read, there’s also the potential for it to be fascinating and practical: “Amanda Ripley, an award-winning journalist who has covered some of the most devastating disasters of our age, set out to discover what lies beyond fear and speculation. In this magnificent work of investigative journalism, Ripley retraces the human response to some of history’s epic disasters” and emerges with practical advice as well as unforgettable stories. Reading along with Janssen’s book club.

June:
Isola | A December release that came highly recommended by Whitney. I am so grateful for all her kid book picks and feel sure I’ll love this one, too. “An orphaned heiress is abandoned on a small island. As the weather turns, blanketing the island in ice, she discovers a faith she’d never before needed. Inspired by the real life of a sixteenth-century heroine, Isola is the timeless story of a woman fighting for survival.”
I Just Wish I Had a Bigger Kitchen | I preordered this one to support Kate but haven’t read it yet!

July:
Covenant of Water | This one has been on my TBR list for quite some time but Laura Wifler’s review pushed me over the edge: “On the cover there is an endorsement that says this book is, ‘a pleasure to read,’ and honestly, that about sums it up. It’s incredible. The whole time I keep thinking—I can’t believe this is a real book. Not because it was such. a. page. turner. (though it often was) but because it was so well built and thought out. It’s hard to describe, but if you want a book that moves you in all the best ways, read this.” Will do!
Writing Creativity and Soul | I think Sue Monk Kidd is a terrifically talented writer and I am excited to read her new book “on the mysteries, frustrations, and triumphs of being a writer – an instructive guide to awakening the soul.”

August:
The Will of the Many | My sister recommended this new fantasy series, comparing it to Red Rising. Say no more!
Hunting the Falcon | I gifted my Dad this “exhilarating feat of research and analysis” into the life of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn a few years ago. It’s hefty, but he quickly dispatched it and put it back on my shelf, thinking I would enjoy it, too. This time period has fascinated me since I read Philippa Gregory as a teenager (bet I’m not the only one!); I’m looking forward to finally picking it up and reading it myself.

September:
The Glassmaker | In putting together this year’s list I tried to get real with my TBR Note. There are books that have literally been on there for a decade and I just haven’t reached for them – maybe time to let them go? I tried to delete with abandon but this one, a Tracy Chevalier historical novel from last year, made the cut.
Hold Me Tight | I always try to read a marriage book in the month of our wedding anniversary. This one came highly recommended by Janssen.

October:
The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell | I believe this was recommended by one of you on a past post! I revisited it in my TBR purge and am intrigued enough to add it to the list :)
Wild Things: The Joy of Reading Children’s Literature as an Adult | “Bruce Handy revisits the classics of American childhood, from fairy tales to The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and explores the backstories of their creators, using context and biography to understand how some of the most insightful, creative, and witty authors and illustrators of their times created their often deeply personal masterpieces.” Here for it.

November:
The Postcard | This was one of Claire’s favorite reads from 2025 and her description was intriguing enough to get it on my list: “This novel, like, changed my brain chemistry. It’s actually a fictionalized version of a real event, when Berest received a postcard with nothing written on it but the names of four family members who had died in a concentration camp. As she tries to find out who sent the postcard (real), you’re also taken up with her family’s story of being French Jews in World War 2 (fictionalized). Without a doubt my favorite historical fiction read this year, and that’s a long list as it’s my preferred genre.”
Small Things Like These | “A deeply affecting story of hope, quiet heroism, and empathy from one of our most critically lauded and iconic writers.” It is, indeed, a small book, ideal for a busy month.

December:
Still Life | I have many friends who love the Inspector Gamache series, and I’m excited to join them in their enthusiasm!
The Library Book | “Weaving her lifelong love of books and reading into an investigation of a disastrous LA Public Library fire that consumed more than 400,000 books, award-winning reporter Susan Orlean delivers a mesmerizing and uniquely compelling book that manages to tell the broader story of libraries and librarians in a way that has never been done before.”

I’d love to hear: Have you read any of these books? Would you like to read any alongside me in 2026? Let’s chat! (And our 2026 readaloud plan is up next!)

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